Review: Act 3's 'Hansel and Gretel' is whimsical and imaginative

DeSales University

The Gingerbread Witch (right, Autumn Lee Fink) entices Hansel (Mike Franz) and Gretel (Tori Lewis) to taste a bit of her gingerbread house in DeSales University's Act 3 Children's production of 'Hansel and Gretel.' It's playing through April 30 in the Schubert Theatre of the Labuda Center for the Performing Arts at DeSales University.

The Gingerbread Witch (right, Autumn Lee Fink) entices Hansel (Mike Franz) and Gretel (Tori Lewis) to taste a bit of her gingerbread house in DeSales University's Act 3 Children's production of 'Hansel and Gretel.' It's playing through April 30 in the Schubert Theatre of the Labuda Center for the Performing Arts at DeSales University. (DeSales University)

Wallace does double duty manipulating an owl puppet which is surprisingly expressive.

As the troll under the bridge, Anna Ritchy is funny, and her inspired overshirt shirt made out of greenery adds to the humor.

Assisting Hansel and Gretel on their journey are the Sandman, played by Ryan Lind as a sort of yawning Mister Rogers, and Christine Baglivio as a magical dew princess.

Crystal Fries is impatient but remorseful as the siblings' mother, who sets the story in motion by sending her children into the woods to collect berries. Tony Bender is a hearty and optimistic father.

Scenic designer Karyn Bohli makes the most of the small space with props that turn for different scenes and a gingerbread house that appears through the trees.

Costume designer Laura Risch has created diverse and colorful costumes from the rag-covered clothes of Hansel and Gretel to the lighted leaves of the sprites to the prosthetic-enhanced visages of the goblins and troll.

Director Patrick Golebiowski keeps everything moving around the stage, which includes carpet seating for children so they are immersed in the action.

After the show, the cast signs autographs and poses for photos in the lobby.

•"Hansel and Gretel,"10 a.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with selected 12:30 p.m. shows, through April 30. The 12:30 p.m. April 11 performance will feature there American Sign Language interpreters for patrons who are hearing impaired and audio descriptions for patrons who are visually impaired. Schubert Theatre, Labuda Center for the Performing Arts, DeSales University, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley. Tickets: $10, adults; $9, children. 610-282-3192, http://www.desales.edu/act1.